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Thailand (Nakhon Pathom) 87

JOURNAL OF POPULATION AND SOCIAL STUDIES

JULY 1991- JANUARY 1992 - VOLUME 3, NUMBER 1-2

93.87.01 - English - Kerry RICHTER and Chai PODHISITA, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170 (Thailand)

Thai Family Demography: A Review and Research Prospects (p. 1-19)

The field of family demography and household is in itself fairly new, especially viewed in contrast to some of the other topics in the field such as fertility and mortality. Demographers working in this field draw together studies from several social science disciplines and formulate a basis for studying the family that is uniquely demographic. This paper attempts to give an overview of demographic knowledge on the Thai family and to suggest directions for further research. It begins with a brief discussion on the concept of family demography and the Thai context. Then several features of demographic processes associated with the Thai families and household are discussed at some length. The paper wraps up with some suggestions for further research in the field of family demography. (THAILAND, FAMILY DEMOGRAPHY, DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH)

93.87.02 - Thai - Boonlert LEOPRAPAI, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170 (Thailand)

Population of Thailand after the Reproductive Revolution (p. 21-53)

The population of Thailand is one among the population groups in the modern time who has experienced the rapid decline in fertility level within two decades. Thailand's population completed the reproductive revolution process so quickly that its age structure has no time to adjust and still holds the potential for growth for several decades to come. This may be seen from the change in size of the Thai population. During the period of reproductive revolution from 1970 to 1990, the population increased by 55.8%. Although the replacement level of fertility could be maintained, the size of the Thai population in the year 2025 may be as big as 80.911 million, an increase of 25.209 million within the period of 35 years after 1990. As for the effect of reproductive revolution on the age structure of the population, the pattern is that the proportion of children (under 15 years of age) declines while the number and proportion of population in working-age group (15-59 years of age) and the elderly (60 years and over) tend to increase. The extent of decrease in the proportion of children has resulting a decrease in the economic burden on economically productive population. The reproductive revolution also results in a number of positive economic and social implications such as a higher per capital income, the larger size of the work force, a gradual reduction in the number of new entrants into the labour market and the decrease in the number of school age population. One of the negative effects of reproductive revolution is the increase in both number of proportion of the elderly. In the year 2010, percentage of the elderly will be only 9.4. By the year 2025, however, the number of the elderly would be 12.559 million and the percentage of total population would be as high as 15.5. (THAILAND, FERTILITY DECLINE, DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION, AGE DISTRIBUTION, POPULATION PROJECTIONS)

93.87.03 - Thai - Voravidh CHAROENLOET

Population and Industrial Development (p. 55-83)

Concurrent with the decline in population growth rate in the 1980's, Thailand experienced an unprecedented rate of economic growth. During the last three years of this decade, the average annual rate of economic growth was as high as 11.7%. Such phenomenal economic growth has generally been attributed to the internationalization of the Thai economy through the rapid expansion of export, foreign investment and tourism. However, industries in the manufacturing sector which has been playing the major role in the two-digit economic growth tend to be resource-based and labour-intensive. Moreover, foreign investment in export-oriented industries tends to use Thailand as a base for assembling rather than producing goods and has been attracted primarily by cheap labour cost. All these may contribute to the employment of nonskilled, low-paid labour force, but not the development of scientific/technological based industries, the foundation for permanent and lasting economic development. (THAILAND, ECONOMIC GROWTH, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT)

93.87.04 - English - Boonlert LEOPRAPAI, Anthony PRAMUALRATANA, Buppha SIRIRASSAMEE, Kanchana TANGCHONLATIP and Umaporn PATTARAVANICH, Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170 (Thailand)

Health Service Providers' and Users' Opinions on Maternal Health Services in Bangkok Metropolis (p. 85-122)

With a view to finding out about the opinions of both health service providers and users on maternal health services in Bangkok Metropolis, the study using the qualitative data collection methods was conducted. An in-depth interview of health personnel at two general hospitals and three Bangkok Metropolis Administration (BMA) health centers and two focus group discussions were carried out. Participants of the focus group discussions are residents of the two low income communities who were either pregnant or who had given births for not more than three months at the time of the study. According to the health service providers at administrative and working levels, equipment, medical supplies and other necessary facilities are adequate. But there is not enough nurses to cope with the large number of patients or to provide maternal and child health services in the communities. The lack of empathy of doctors toward nurses as well as patients has been mentioned quite frequently both by health service providers and users. Participants at the focus group discussions were of the opinion male doctors tended to have a warmer and friendlier attitudes. Health service providers at the hospitals thought that if more personnel is added and more or less equal treatment of doctors and nurses is instituted, the unit would be able to functions efficiently. Health service providers at BMA health centers which provide only pre- and post-natal services expressed that efficient referral network is needed both within Bangkok Metropolis and between Bangkok Metropolis and the provinces. Since health service providers at BMA health centers have to deal with a large number of migrant pregnant women and mothers, they explained that this group of persons should be instilled the value of getting their files from the health centers before they move out to enable them to use any health enter in the city or in the country for regular ANC or PNC visits. For health service users, the most important reason for using a particular health unit is not the good or bad experience they ever have or the positive or negative information of the particular health service unit they have ever heard. (THAILAND, HEALTH SERVICES, MEDICAL PERSONNEL, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, CLIENTS, EVALUATION)

93.87.05 - Thai - Bencha YODDUMNERN-ATTIG and Mali AMPORNDANAI

Thailand's Socio-economic Context and Its Implications for Child Health and Development (p. 123-143)

Within the past 20 years, Thailand has shown remarkable success in accelerating socioeconomic growth, while also dramatically reducing marital fertility and the population growth rate. These changes must inevitably affect the smallest unit of society and its smallest members, children, either positively or negatively. This study utilizes data drawn from a project entitled "The Effects of Family Size on the Status of Maternal and Child Health in Thailand" for the purpose of investigating how socioeconomic and demographic changes have affected the health and development of young Northern and Southern Thai children. Project personnel interviewed 2,583 currently married women aged 15-44 in 3,612 households, with health examinations being conducted (including stool tests, hematocrit exam, and weight and height measurements) amongst 439 Northern and 579 Southern children under 5 years of age in the sample households. Data analysis for this paper revealed that socio-economic factors are not statistically significant for the health status of children. The health and development of children may become worse as parents struggle for a better socioeconomic status and, since their preoccupation are work and work related activities. This has definite adverse repercussions when parental time is also not adequately directed towards providing adequate health care and a health physical environment for their children, though the parents are rich or poor. (THAILAND, ECONOMIC GROWTH, MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH, CHILD DEVELOPMENT)

93.87.06 - Thai - Pichit PITAKTEPSOMBATI and Wanpen VORKLARNG

Who Returned Postcard in the Poll? (p. 145-150)

The purpose of this paper is to test a rarely proved hypothesis which generally stated that those who can and cannot be interviewed or reinterviewed from crossectional or longitudinal studies are significantly different. This logic is also applied to those who returned and not returned the postcard left by the study. In so doing, this paper uses the data from the study entitled the Survey of Political Opionion and Political Party Popularity among Population of Bangkok Metropolitan which interviewed 1,500 people who were 20 years of age and over in August 20-26, 1992. The postcard was left for the respondent to fill after they voted or did not vote in September 22, 1992 election day. 520 respondents returned the card. This equals to 34.7%. 90% of those who returned the card indicated they voted. Those who returned and did not return the card were significantly different in their sex, age, feeling toward voting. However, Index of Dissimilarity were not significantly high. The other three variables-education occupation and preference in voting were not significantly different between people of two groups. Thus, it is uncertain to indicate that they are different or not. Our prior intention to use the last set of data - 520 people - to further investigate the consistency between intention to vote and behaviour (voting in the September election) is doubtful fortunate. This may due to the low return rate. Earl R. Babblic suggests that at least 50% return rate in mailed survey is prerequisite in using the data. The result of this study seems to support Babblie's guideline. (METHODOLOGY, MAIL SURVEYS, DATA COLLECTION)

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